Mariella Hunt

Lately I have been alternating between Mermaid-obsessed and Witch/Wizard-obsessed. I’m also heavily favoring books that are poetic and feature magic.

The Magician’s Daughter has become one of my new favorites. The cover alone is enough to make one stop and look at it, but you soon fall in love with the characters. Biddy (Bridget) is the adopted daughter of a wizard named Rowan, and they live on a hidden island called Hy-Brasil where magical creatures (such as the Púca) also reside. They are accompanied by Hutchincroft, Rowan’s animal familiar, a rabbit with personality.

Rowan is a wonderful character with a fresh sense of humor who is determined to gift magic to the people who truly need it: the poor, the ill, the broken. He has a Robin Hood reputation, because the magic council are trying to keep it locked away, but he goes off in the night – taking the form of a raven – and does this work against their will. Good things happen to people who are gifted with touches of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Biddy is not a wizard, and she has always known it. But when one of Rowan’s missions goes wrong, she’ll discover there was more to her than just a girl who was adopted. Being a magician’s daughter, something is bound to rub off – and the heart is a mysterious thing! It soaks things in like a sponge, sometimes.

My mind is caught in this book—in the sweet father-daughter moments, or flying as a raven, or laughing at Hutch’s reactions. Morgaine is also a wonderful character. Rowan’s fiancée from long ago, I expected her to be an enemy. Instead, she winds up being the friend that Biddy needed.

And even the tortured soul, Storm, who seems ruthless and evil on the surface, had a moment of redemption. I did feel for him. I did wish he’d had a better life. Those are the best antagonists.

My only gripe is that there was not more of the island, Hy-Brasil, and its lore. I’m sure that the place is filled with wonder, and in my mind, I can imagine all of the adventures that will take place there, especially after the events in this book. Ah well – I can always write adventures into a new magical island of my own. The perks of being a writer!

I got an ebook copy of it, but loved it enough that I’m thinking of getting it in paper for my shelf. It’s a light read with powerful moments and no spice. It’s a great gift for your magic-loving friend. I would give this story 4 stars!